N.B.A. ROUNDUP

N.B.A. ROUNDUP; Robinson to Miss Game 3 Against the SuperSonics

Published: April 27, 2002

The San Antonio Spurs will be without their 7-foot-1 starting center, David Robinson, when they face the SuperSonics today in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series in Seattle.

The series is tied at 1-1, with Game 4 to be played Wednesday night. Robinson, who did not travel to Seattle, is doubtful for that game, Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich said yesterday.

Robinson's sprained lower back kept him out of Monday night's game in San Antonio, when the Sonics evened the series with a 98-90 victory. He played only seven minutes in Game 1, a 110-89 Spurs victory.

HORNETS' MASHBURN STILL OUT: Upon learning that Charlotte forward Jamal Mashburn would not be playing this afternoon in Game 3 of the Hornets' first-round series against Orlando, Tracy McGrady of the Magic tried -- and failed -- to offer sympathy.

The Hornets announced yesterday that Mashburn was still sidelined with anemia and vitamin deficiency. He played only the first 10 minutes of Charlotte's series-opening victory, and has been hospitalized twice in the past week.

With the series tied at 1-1, Charlotte will try to regain home-court advantage without Mashburn, its top regular-season scorer (21.5 points), 3-point threat (37 percent) and free-throw shooter (88 percent).

Mashburn is listed as questionable for Game 4 on Tuesday night.

''I'm not feeling sorry for anyone's injuries,'' Orlando Coach Doc Rivers said. ''I'll tell anybody right now, you can be at full strength, but you let us have Grant Hill at full strength and Tracy McGrady at full strength and Mike Miller at full strength. Then we'll lace 'em up and see how it goes.''